Package container



April 3, 1945- G. H. BUGENHAGEN 2,372,708

IfAGKAGE CONTAINER Filed Sept. l, 1943 v INVENToR. //af/wmdf/ Patented Apr. 3, 1945 PACKAGE CONTAINER George H. Bug,enhagen,MidlandMich.

UNITED s1-"Arias PATENT -oifFIcE-pv Application' September 1, 1943; Serial No. 5005797' 2 claims. (c1. zot-41.), y

y The objects of my invention are, first, to provideal container for holding* a; packageof cigarettesvwiiich'may be hel'df andI opened ina oneliand operation. Second, tofprovidea container that is= easily operated by one hand, is-'self-clos`` ing and` normally held a closed" 'position Third, to provide a container that is strong-'in con'- struct'ion; may be easilymanufactured of plastic material, attractive in appearance, and novel in operation.

I attain the above objects in the device shown on the accompanying drawing and described in this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l is a side view showing a possible design, the hand grip at the bottom, and spring locations. Fig. 2 is an end view showing the V at the bottom for limiting the extentof operation. Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the location cf springs and thepackage centering holder. Fig. 4 is a cross section showing the position of the hinge, the compression springs and in dotted line, the 'open position of the container. Fig. 5 is a part cross section showing the combined package centering holder and hinge clamp, and compression springs.

In the drawing members I and 2 comprise the main container chamber members, arranged in a pair of male and female parts, pivoted together at the junction of the respective chamber member bottom walls at 3 as is shown in Fig. 2 and Fig 4. The end and top walls are slightly telescoped as at 1. The male portion of the chamber member I is cut away at the hinge location to form a V shaped recess 3 to receive the bottom wall of the chamber member 2 for the purpose of forming a fulcrum hinge. A tension spring clamp I0 4anchored to the respective container chamber members I and 2 bottom walls, in a pair of openings 8 at the center, sustains the said chamber members in hinged alignment. The upper extension of the spring clamp I0 functions as a package centering holder for a package I I shown in dotted lines, Fig. 5. A pair of compression springs 4 positioned below the hinge center 3, on location pegs 5 exert an outward force below the hinge center to sustain the chamber members above the hinge center in a normally closed and operative position. Finger gripsl 6 at opposite sides of the container provide convenient means for holding and operating the container.

In operation the entire assembly of the container is gripped at the bottom at the linger grips 6, pressure is appliedto open the chamber above, a suitable package II as shown in'Fig. 5 is placed package centering holder'- Ifll and? the container 'is ready for-operation'.

The combination package centering holder and hinge clamp` sustains the pair-vof chamber members irr a rm hinged, operative position, the corn-v pressi'onsprings belowf the hinge center cause the container portions above the hinge to be forced closed positionpwhereas a pressure applied on the grips 6 cause the compression springs 4 to yield, and the container t0 open above the hinge center. When the pressure is released on the said springs, the compression spring force causes the chamber above the hinge to close to its normal position.

I am aware that containers for one-handoperation are on the market, but not to my knowledge has my device been disclosed, and therefore claim as follows:

l. In a container for a package of merchandise adapted to be opened at will by compressive lateral pressure on one end thereof for the removal of merchandise from the package, the combination including: first and second tray-shaped members each divided into two`sections by a fixed partition parallel to the ends of the member, the sides and end of one section of each member being of substantially the same height as the partition and the sides of the other section decreasing in height from the partition to the end of the sec tion, said end being of less height than the partition, the said rst and second tray-shaped members forming, when in open-faced Contact, a substantially completely enclosed package compartment of the same approximate size and shape as the said 4package of merchandise and a partially open spring compartment smaller than the package compartment; means integral with the rst of said tray-shaped members to receive the partition of the second of said members and to permit pivoting thereof along an axis parallel to the edge of the partition; means to prevent movement of `the second of said tray-shaped members longitudinally and laterally with respect to the rst of said members; a U-shap'ed clip member removably positioned with its base within the said spring compartment and its legs projecting through apertures in the said partitions, said clip member being adapted to hold the two trayshaped members firmly together in pivotal relationship and the said projecting legs being adapted to clamp rmly therebetween the said package of merchandise within said package compartment and to maintain it at all times equally spaced between the two tray-shaped members;

within the container between the forks of the 66 and compression spring means within the said ing the tray-shaped members to pivot and the a package compartment to open.

2. In a normally closed container for a package of cigarettes adapted to be operated with one hand for the extraction therefrom of a cigarette, the combination including: rst and second trayshaped members each divided into two sections by a xed partition parallel to the ends of the member, the sides and end of one section of each member 4being of substantially the same height as the partition and the sides of the other section decreasing in height from the partition to the end of the section, said end being of less height than the partition, the said first and second trayshaped members forming, when in open-faced contact, a substantially completely enclosed package compartment of the same approximate size and shape as a package of cigarettes and a partially open spring compartment smaller than the package compartment; projecting flange members xedly positioned along the inside surface of each side of the first of said tray-shaped members adapted to engage internally the sides of the second tray-shaped member thereby to maintain lateral alignment of the two tray-shaped members, said ange members being notched to receive the partition of the second tray-shaped member to permit pivoting thereof in said notch and to maintain longitudinal alignment of the two tray-shaped members; a U-shaped clip member removably positioned with its base within the said spring compartment and its legs projecting through apertures in the said partitions, said clip member being adapted te hold the two tray-like members rrnly together in pivotal relationship and the said projecting legs being adapted to clamp firmly therebetween said package of cigarettes within said package compartment and to maintain it at all times equally spaced between the two tray-shaped members; and compression spring means within the said spring compartment extending transversely between and contacting each of said tray-shaped members and holding the package compartment closed at all times except when pressure is applied to opposite sides of the spring compartment sufficient to compress the spring means thereby causing the tray-shaped members to pivot and the package compartment to open.

. GEO. H. BUGENHAGEN. 

